Summary

• Gladiator II is likely set about 19 years after the original, in the year 211 AD, during the reign of Emperors Caracalla and Geta.
• Quite a bit happened between Gladiator and its sequel, like Paul Mescal's Lucius becoming an adult, so 20 years seems like a good amount of time to fit so many developments in.
• Gladiator II will likely take place in 211 AD, but since director Ridley Scott changed the historical timeline around for the original Gladiator, there's no guarantee Gladiator II will actually take place in that year.

Over 20 years after the original historical epic was released, Gladiator II is set to pick up years after Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius died in the Colosseum. Lucius, Paul Mescal's character, was in the first Gladiator, though he appeared as a child. Since Lucius has clearly become an adult between movies, it seems that Gladiator II will feature a significant time jump. As Gladiator II's November release date approaches, more details have been revealed about the film, and they give some great insight into how Gladiator II fits into the timeline established by the original Gladiator.

A new Maximus' death at the end of Gladiator.

Gladiator 2 Is Probably Set In 211 AD

The trailer for Gladiator II showcased the Roman Emperors who rose to power after Commodus' death at the end of Gladiator. In real life, after Commodus was assassinated, it led to the Year of Five Emperors, a period of political instability in Rome. Though Gladiator isn't very historically accurate, the sequel does seem to be following the real timeline of Ancient Rome. After the Year of Five Emperors, Septimus Severus became Emperor, and he eventually gave the throne to his sons, Caracalla and Geta. They ruled Rome together as co-emperors from 209 to 211 AD, when Caracalla assassinated Geta.

Since Caracalla and Geta are Gladiator II's emperors, it seems Gladiator II is set in 211 AD, the year Geta was assassinated. Lucius is determined to get revenge against Rome in Gladiator II, and since he'll likely be taking the same role as Maximus did in the original film, Lucius will likely end up killing one or both of the Emperors. If that happens, Gladiator II would have to take place in 211, as that was when Geta died in real life. That would also help the sequel fit within the original Gladiator's timeline, based on Commodus' death.

How Long After Gladiator Is Gladiator 2 Set?

Based on the real timeline of Roman emperors, it seems Gladiator II takes place several years after the original. Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the original movie, ruled from 177 to 192 AD, when he was assassinated. Since Commodus died in 192 and Gladiator II will likely take place towards the end of 211, there are almost 20 years between Gladiator and its sequel. That's more than enough time for Lucius to have grown up between movies, and it also helps explain the massive amount of developments between Gladiator and Gladiator II.

What Happens Between Gladiator And Gladiator 2

It would also make sense for Gladiator II to take place 20 years after the original film simply because of how much happened between them. Based on some Denzel Washington's Macrinus also rose to power in that time, so 20 years seems like a realistic timeline for so much to happen.

In addition to Lucius' journey between movies, quite a bit happened to Rome in his absence. Since Gladiator II will focus on Caracalla and Geta's reign, that means quite a bit of political instability and many power shifts happened between Gladiator and its sequel. Rome also seemingly declined quite a bit between films, as the trailer indicated that Caracalla and Geta weren't concerned with seeming like benevolent rulers the way Commodus was. Corruption seems to have spread far and wide throughout the Roman Empire in Lucius' absence, and 20 years would be more than enough time for that type of rot to set in.

Why Gladiator 2 Might Use A Different Timeline

Though Gladiator II is likely set in 211 AD, there's no guarantee that it will actually follow the historical timeline. Ridley Scott, who directed both Gladiator movies, took a few creative liberties with the historical timeline of Ancient Rome to tell a more compelling story in the original film, and he could easily do it again for Gladiator II. In real life, Commodus ruled for about 15 years, from 177 to 192 AD, but Gladiator condensed his reign into about a year. That shifted timeline helped Gladiator make Commodus a more compelling villain, and Scott might use the same trick for Gladiator II.

There are a couple of clues already that Gladiator II could have a more realistic timeline than the original, however. The trailer for Gladiator II indicated that it would pick up in the midst of Caracalla and Geta's reign, rather than showing it from start to finish like Gladiator did with Commodus. Pedro Pascal's Acacius mentioned that he didn't want to send more soldiers to their deaths under the Emperors' orders, and he seems to have a dark history of serving under their rule. If that's the case, Gladiator II's story could match up with the historical timeline of Caracalla and Geta's rule.

Even if Gladiator II does play around with the historical timeline, though, it will likely work quite well. Scott didn't let historical accuracy get in the way of the original Gladiator, and it paid off. Because it changed the timeline of Commodus' rule, Gladiator was able to show his full transformation into a tyrant rather than worrying about fitting with history. Those creative liberties helped make Commodus a truly diabolical villain, and Scott could do the same for the sequel. Whatever Ridley Scott decides to change about Gladiator II's timeline will almost surely be for the best.